Parasites

So, I had the great opportunity to be a part of a live improvisation on the radio: 91.1 WRVU from 2-4 am (AM mind you) on sunday morning. It was 4 "musicians" being manipulated by 4 "meddlers" haha, if you will. Obviously unlike any experience I've had, and I definitely have to hand it to friend and dj of this fine radio program, Tony Youngblood for kicking ass.

Anyway, listening to this music brings up a lot of questions for me, and I wanted to ask anyone who is interested, to maybe listen to some of this recording (link at bottom) and offer up your opinions on the questions as well. Granted, this is over an hr of music, and it is best suited for the soundtrack to a really fucked up hour of your life (or perhaps an hour of being really fucked up would enhance the aesthetic... ???) Either way - questions come to mind: can "acoustic" and "electronic" music live and work happily together? analog and digital shaking hands? Perhaps one of the fists is bigger, and ultimately takes more from one party than the other (electronic takes from acoustic, but what about vice versa?)

All in all, I was absolutely happy and excited to be a part of this- and I think it turned out really fucking cool - patient, cinematic, lush at times and over all a thoughtful endeavor. So enough of my banter, if you'd like to check it out, go here

http://www.mediafire.com/?a3ddydwq0ej

you can find out more about the radio show and check out past episodes at www.myspace.com/oreradio

i think you'll like it.

power to the people in places doing things not typically done to push their passions forward!

a little pic

So, when I was in NYC playing with Raul, we got photographed by this guy who works for the NY Times. He also won a Pulitzer! And he happened to take a pretty cool pic of me playing tamborine. Thought I would share it: it just goes to show - even a pulitzer-prize winning photographer can't make a dork any less dorky. jingle jangle!

a little brag...

Just recently two interesting points have come up in my life that I wanted to share. The first is, that I had a satirical article accepted for publication in a new Chicago arts magazine called Stockyard. I think most of you are familiar with the piece that was accepted - it was my pseudo art review from the first issue of Put Out or Get Out. And they're going to pay me!

Secondly, I'm not sure if I have shared this already, but my new boss (who never actually works in the shop), did not make most of his money selling mysterious herbs via the internet, but is actually a music engineer/producer and has produced several albums for the Flaming Lips among others (his name is Keith Cleversly). Apparently, he took a little time away from the studio, but is wanting to get back into it. Today at work, he put a note on the online bulletin board saying that he wants to experiment with some things in the studio and needs a recording to play around with, so we're putting together a ragtag group at work that he will produce, record, and mix for free in his studio! Right now, the lineup looks like me on drums, the rapper mentioned in the previous post on vocals, a bassist that plays jungle/house music, and a guitarist/keyboardist that comes from a rock background. It's gonna be ridiculous!

My new jobbie

I got a new job... not new to some, but relatively. I got a co-worker named Dave. He is an mc and I listened to some of his music today (just right now, actually). He is fucking sick. For real. I highly recommend checking him out @ http://www.myspace.com/goldenfloyd. Trust me.

David Byrne

I had the chance to see David Byrne at the Ryman last night. Fucking amazing show, as you might imagine. I would highly recommend his new album (which is a collaboration with the producer, Brian Eno) Everything that Happens Will Happen Today. Brilliant, beautifully joyful music as only they could put together.

He of course did a lot of numbers from this album, but also a good collection of Talking Heads tunes, and at the very end, even did some country songs (it seems like everyone does a little something like that when they come to Nashville.) The crowd (as every crowd at the ryman has been) was fantastic. I felt like I was really part of something magical.

The show also brought about certain issues I've had with my own musical voice - in the sense that I have so many varied influences, and I feel like the music I make somehow has to accomodate all of them. (which of course Byrne does beautifully with his.) But its not like he consciously did that, it evolved. I've realized that ultimately I just have to create without thinking in a way, ... prevent any intellectual walls to hinder the process. Its so obvious, but so hard for me for some reason. I know, eventually one's voice, unique and resonant, will come through. And its the journey towards that ever elusive, never conclusive voice that makes it all worth while anyway, right? so, here's to us searching, but never truly finding our voices. may it be a wild ride!

If you're up really late tonight...

you should go online to www.wrvu.org and listen to some experimental music I'll be playing (if all goes according to plan) from 2-4 am (central time) this early Sunday morning with some other nashville cohorts. Should go well with any altered states you might be experiencing. cheerio!

Mehldau

Alright, dudes. I know I told a couple of you about the Brad Mehldau solo piano show, but as it turns out I had the date wrong... close, but wrong. It's May 1st, not the 6th. It's a Friday and it's at the Chicago Symphony Center. Tickets are still available ranging from 28-88 dollars. God speed!